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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I know it's been done to death but........ How much alcohol do you REALLY drink? And how much to you say you do in RL?

209 replies

Bumpandkind · 20/06/2014 20:03

Just asking as I sit with my 2 nd glass of wine and plans for more. Since DS was around 9 m, I've found old drinking habits increasing.

OP posts:
Wadingthroughsoup · 20/06/2014 22:58

I use to drink heavily and didn't really have an 'off-switch'. It began to cause problems, so I decided to address it about 3 years ago. Initially, I abstained totally for a few months and then began to drink again, but in moderation. That seems to have worked for me.

Now, I tend to go several weeks or a month without, especially in winter, and then might have a month where I drink on either a Friday or Saturday, usually 2 or 3 ciders or beers. I don't drink at home, only if out at social event. I never get drunk anymore. I log my intake on mydrinkaware because I don't ever want to go back to heavy or binge drinking. The stats on liver disease and cancer scare me. Also, I prefer to spend 'spare' calorie allowance on cake rather than booze :)

Wadingthroughsoup · 20/06/2014 22:59

And if I get asked (it's only ever a GP that asks this question, IME), I give them an accurate answer.

Haroldplaystheharmonica · 20/06/2014 23:01

An apt thread tonight. I went for a smear this afternoon and the nurse asked me various questions including how much did I drink. I immediately said a couple of bottles of wine a week which is the truth and what I thought was about average (it is in my circle of friends) The nurse said this was really too much and I should cut out half a bottle of wine or so. I was really surprised as two bottles of wine a week really isn't very much to us Blush

OwlCapone · 20/06/2014 23:02

I drink about 2 glasses of wine a month, depending how often the children are with their father.

SmilingHappyBeaver · 20/06/2014 23:47

DH and I share a bottle of wine probably 5 nights out of 7. But I never drink on my own when he is away on business, unless I'm seeing friends socially and not driving.

It must just be a bad habit we've got into, because when he is at home we drink wine with dinner, but when he is away I don't think about it or miss it at all.

I have no idea what that equates to in units... the only "units" I count are empty bottles when I sort the recycling!

wheresthelight · 20/06/2014 23:48

None at all! Have been the total for about the last 5-6 years due to health issues and medication that is affected by alcohol...would love a glass of wine though!

pigluscious · 20/06/2014 23:53

Wow. Your answers are all ALOT lower than I was expecting. Before i got pregnant I used to drink about half a bottle-a bottle of wine a night in the week and then a bottle of wine and some beers as 'pre-lash' (urg) before moving onto whiskey whilst out. I know that's lots but is it super crazy lots? Everyone around me was doing similar!

pigluscious · 20/06/2014 23:55

(Btw the whiskey was just at the weekends. And it's worth noting I was very unhappy at the time!)

ouryve · 21/06/2014 00:02

2 bottles of wine is about 20 units.

I drink 1-3 bottles equivalent per week, depending on the week. When I see threads about people drinking that in a night, I do wonder how, but that could be an age thing.

mum11970 · 21/06/2014 00:07

I've had 5 pints of lager tonight. Probably won't drink again until next friday. Used to drink fri and sat but trying to lose weight so cut back a lot as I can easily drink 8-10 pints. And yes I do lie when asked how many units I drink.

Ragwort · 21/06/2014 00:14

Two or three large glasses of wine most evenings, I rarely go out drinking, prefer my home comforts! If asked by my doctor I would probably halve the amount.

BackforGood · 21/06/2014 00:15

I don't know Pigluscious - I've just read through the 2nd 1/2 of this thread, and been quite surprised just how much some people are drinking.
Even before children I'd not drink as much as every night (let alone a bottle a night), but since having dc I would just be wiped out by 1/2 the amounts some people are drinking. Being a parenting website, I'm surprised how much people drink when they've got dc. Not saying that in a judge-y way, just in a 'wondering where I'm going wrong in being so knackered for the last 18 years, I've not had the capacity to drink alcohol except on the odd occasion' sort of a way.

pigluscious · 21/06/2014 00:19

backforgood I can't comment on how people drink when they have DC's, mine is 5 months old and I had my first alcoholic drink since pregnancy/parenthood last week and it basically knocked me out!

CompanionCube · 21/06/2014 00:43

I drink once every few months but when I do, I drink a lot. I know it is bad to binge drink though.

I really dislike the taste of most alcohol. The only thing I drink is vodka and orange because you can't taste the vodka.

maddening · 21/06/2014 00:48

Most months nothing - had some over Christmas -probably about 50 units total over the month in about 5 events. Had about 4 drinks since Christmas - each one about 2 units. I might have a few drinks on holiday in July.

BreadForBrains · 21/06/2014 00:50

I drink quite a lot compared to most on this thread.
Probably 4 large vodkas on a Friday and Saturday night. So 8 large vodkas a week, is that 16 units? Don't tend to drink Sunday to Thursday, but we had friends round for the football and we ordered a curry and had some beers. I had 4 bottles of coronas. 3 vodkas tonight and will probably be a similar amount tomorrow.
I don't drink wine, so stick to spirits or beer.

On a night out (I have them once a week/fortnight) I will drink about 3/4 pints or I'll drive and drink soft drinks. I make a concerted effort to drive for about half my nights out so I'm not always drinking.

Some nights out end up with about 8 pints, various cocktails and some champagne consumed. I can and do go weeks without it, I make a conscious decision about twice a year to have a dry month.

I love a good drink but I'm equally happy to abstain.

lettertoherms · 21/06/2014 00:53

I never know how to answer when I'm asked.

I'll go months without a drink. Or I might have a glass of wine with dinner several times in one week. I might have three mimosas at a bridal shower, or a couple beers at a party.

I guess I should say I'm a social/occasional drinker?

BeeBlanket · 21/06/2014 00:57

Wow I thought I didn't drink much! I have toned it down since my youth and since having DC, and even before I didn't think I was a heavy drinker compared with friends. But I do know a lot of muso and creative types, and many of them drink loads.

I have a small glass of white wine most evenings, a couple of times a week I'll have a small top up so an extra half glass. One or two nights a week off ideally, but I don't always manage that. And occasionally a half of lager at lunchtime if we go out for lunch at the weekend. On a big night out (e.g. a party, wedding or posh meal, which is hardly ever) I'd probably have 3 glasses.

I make this about 10-12 units and that is what I'd tell the GP. But I'm aware they'd probably assume I'm way underestimating and double it.

MrsMook · 21/06/2014 03:50

At the Drs, I tick the 0-4 units per week box. My current tipple is a pre mixed can of gin and tonic which I'm most likely to have one a week, but frequently miss weeks. I rarely go out and have the chance for alcohol. Recently, I went to the pub with a friend, and came back from thebar with my default lime and soda. I had to go back up for a cider, because I'd forgotten that I could!

I like the taste. A gentle smiley feeling is nice. I don't go beyond that because of the practicalities of two small children, disturbed nights, and an easily upset digestive system. I have plenty of other ways to relax.

EllaMenopy · 21/06/2014 03:56

I would say I drink moderately. I go months without any alcohol, then I might have a bottle of wine over a week- usually half a glass after dinner. I'd consume perhaps 6 bottles of wine and maybe 6 bottles of some boutique beer over the course of a year.

Pre-kids, I used to drink fairly heavily- sometimes 3 or 4 drinks a few times a week, and on runs of night shifts I used to drink in the morning to help me sleep.

I work in health in a small community, and many people here drink heavily but believe it is a normal, moderate amount. They are often surprised to be told that a bottle of wine or a six pack of beer every night is unhealthy.

Happybeard · 21/06/2014 04:02

Glad this thread turned half way through was starting to get a bit concerned! I drink at least a bottle of white wine on a Friday, then often another on Saturday. Usually a large glass of red on Sunday or DH and I will share a bottle. I have a large glass of white midweek and if I see a friend on another week night we'll usually have a bottle each. I'm fairly low level in comparison to many of my friends. I know three or four who drink a bottle of wine a night.
The only thing that worries me is the calories. If there were no calories in wine of drink a bottle a day at least.

musicalendorphins2 · 21/06/2014 05:00

I rarely drink alcohol (since my 30's, am in my late 50's now) For many years I only had bubbly at Xmas, or Valentines Day type of thing, but now I may have a gin and lemonade when on vacation, or an Irish Coffee in in winter.

OwlCapone · 21/06/2014 05:27

I don't understand why people would lie to their doctor if asked. Surely this means you know you drink too much.

Happybeard · 21/06/2014 05:36

Because you know you drink too much and so don't need the predictable lecture from a GP. Or worse, a leaflet Hmm

MarrogfromMars · 21/06/2014 06:53

I drink a bottle of beer 4-5 nights a week, so depending on size of bottle / strength of beer that's 1.5-3 units each. Used to drink a lot more pre-DC but even if I'm (rarely) out for an evening I won't drink a lot now - lost the tolerance and don't miss the hangovers!